• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Floating Down the River

Music resources that make your teaching easier

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Free Resources
  • Resource Catalog
  • Contact Me
  • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Free Resources
  • Resource Catalog
  • Contact Me
  • About Me
    • Privacy Policy

Taking My Travels Back to the Students: Canoe Song and Land of the Silver Birch

August 2, 2016 //  by Linda//  5 Comments

ShareTweetGooglePinterestMail
Land of the Silver
Birch
In third grade every year, my district colleagues and I
introduce two songs that quickly become school favorites, the “Canoe Song”
(Also called My Paddle) and “Land of the Silver Birch”. Once taught, they
instantly become favorite songs. We teach “Land of the Silver Birch” first. The
students learn how to do the solfa (solfege) and learn about how it is a la
pentatonic song.
We also learn about ostinatos and the students enjoy tapping
the Hi-ya-ya-hi-ya first while others are singing the melody and then they love
the challenge of tapping it while they also sing the melody. They take the
challenge seriously. They love playing this ostinato on the drum while the
class sings the melody. They come up with new ostinatos, such as “land of the
silver birch”, “home of the beaver”, “land where the might moose”, “wanders at
will”, “blue lake and rocky shore”, and “I will return once more” repeated over
and over while other students sing the melody.
My Paddle (Canoe Song)
Later in the year, we learn another favorite song, “My
Paddle”, also known as “the Canoe Song”. It is another wonderful song that we
sing ostinato’s to, such as “my paddle’s keen and bright”, “flashing like
silver”, and other phrases of the song repeated over and over while other
students sing the melody. I start by singing it and see who can tell me what they think the song is about. The students enjoy pretend paddling on the strong
beats while singing.
Partner Songs
Finally, after we have learned these two songs very well, we
sing them as partner songs and finally, add ostinato’s to each song and then
drums. The students own these songs.  Be
sure your students know both songs very well and that you get a strong student
to conduct each part. Establish the two starting pitches and have the students
sing the before you help them get started. If I get a good video of my kids
singing the two parts together, I’ll post it.
Canoeing on the Lake
I spent a lot of time in Ohio this summer with my family. My
dad had Parkinsons’s disease for over 10 years. I was fortunate to be able to
spend 2 weeks in June and we spent a lot of time together. He passed away mid
July so we went back to celebrate his life and spend another two weeks with my
mom. My brother and sister have a camper that stays in a campground all year
around so they can go there for months in spring, summer and fall to relax on
the weekend. We enjoy going there to spend quiet time and like canoeing on the
lake.
While on the lake, my husband was a very good sport and helped me record both songs so my students can get a better feel for these songs. I teach in a low-income school. Most of my kids will never get a chance to go out on a lake in a canoe, so this will help them visualize what the song is about. Even my students who do things like this enjoy the video.
The first video “Land of the Silver Birch”. We recorded it right by a beaver’s dam. We didn’t get to see the beaver that day. 
Land of the Silver Birch

My Paddle

The second video is “My Paddle”, also known as the “Canoe Song”. I sang as my husband paddled on the strong beat, even changing sides at the end of the phrase. He is such a good sport!
My husband and I
I hope you enjoy teaching your students these songs. Be sure
to read my post about my travels to Italy and other places in the last few years. There are tons of fun songs you’ll want to teach your students!
  • Category: Uncategorized

    Previous Post: « Summer Tips for Making Your Next School Year Easier
    Next Post: Make Your Own Non-Candy Classroom Rewards Classroom Rewards Crayons»

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tamara Peters

      August 9, 2016 at 3:11 pm

      This is awesome! I love the videos to give students context for the songs. You have such a pretty voice!

      Reply
      • Linda

        August 9, 2016 at 5:29 pm

        Thanks Tamara, you are so kind!

        Reply
    2. nachhilfefrankenthal

      September 22, 2016 at 9:34 am

      Digital Marketing Courses Nagpur
      Digital Marketing Institute in Nagpur
      Digital Marketing Traning in Nagpur

      Reply
    3. Simon

      January 23, 2017 at 5:49 pm

      It's so lovely. I would like to say that this video is very wonderful and your voice is so romantic. I love it. custom speaker boxes

      Reply
      • Linda

        February 26, 2017 at 8:28 pm

        Thank you. My husband loves my voice too!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    I accept the Privacy Policy

    Primary Sidebar

    Let’s Connect

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Footer

    Let’s Get Social!

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Still Looking for Something?

    Copyright © 2023 — Floating Down the River • All rights reserved.
    Site customised by Laine Sutherland Designs. View terms and conditions.